Apparatus for producing illusionary effects.



L. McCORMICK. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCiNG ILLUSIONARY EFFECTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1913.

Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

LANenou M CORMIcK HIS ATTORNEY LANGDON MCCORMICK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUSIONARY EFFECTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

Application filed December 20, 1913. Serial No. 807,891.

To all whom 2'25 may concern Be it known that I, LANGDONjMCCORMICK,

a'citizen of the United States of America, and resident of501-1043.Broadway, New York city, State of New York, United States ofAmerica, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatusfor Producing Illusionary Effects, of which the following is aspecification, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an apparatus for producing illusionaryeffects, particularly for the purpose of making it appear that anobject, say a steam ship, is approaching or receding.

The invention consists in enlarging or de creasing the visible portionof the object by the movement of it in relation to adjacent objects andif desired by making the object say in sections so that it can beexpanded or contracted.

An example of my invention as applied to a steam ship is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 represent the samesteam ship but in Fig. 2 the horizon hasbeen raised and the water linelowered. Figs. 3 and 4 are side views of the screens bearing theillustrations of the steam ship, horizon, water line and sky as shown inFigs. 1 and 2 respectively. Fig. 5 illustrates a modifi cation in whichthe steam ship is made in sections to expand and contract, and tothereby appear to turn more broad side on or bow on as the case may be.

If desired individual parts of the object may independently move toenhance the effeet, for example, the funnels of the steam ship can beincreased in size and be moved toward or away from each other, or theport holes, lamps or other parts may be increased or decreased and maybe correspondingly illuminated.

In Figs. 1 and 2 four screens or cloths are used, these being what Iwill call sky cloth a, horizon cloth 6, ship cloth or screen 0 and seacloth or screen (Z. In these it will be observed that Z) and 0? only areadapted to be moved by the cords e and f but the other cloths or screenscould be also moved if desired. It will be seen that the upper edges ofthe cloths or screens 6 and d are close together in Fig. 1 and aconsiderable distance apart in Fig. 2;, lowering of the cloth or screen03 revealing ship while the screen 6 makes it much farther fromconsiderably more of the raising of the cloth or appear that the ship isthe horizon than it is in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 the ship cloth or screen i is made in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,adapted to be moved so as to more or less overlap each other and therebyincrease the visible length of the ship and make it appear that the sameis turning either more or less broad-side-on. This illusion can be usedin conjunction with screens such as a, b, 0 and d shown above andillustrates by means of the hand winch g how a screen 72. supportingship 71 can be raised and lowered. The funnels and the masts of the shipmay be made to raise and lower as the ship rises and falls. This may beeffected by one or more rope and pulley arrangements such as k, Z, butcould also be done by a suitable lever connection. The steam ship ofFig. 5 is intended for use in connection with the screens a, b and d ofFigs. 1 to 4, when desired.

It will be quite apparent that the inven tion can be applied to manyforms of screens bearing pictures or illustrations and some or all ofwhich may be movable vertically or otherwise, in addition to which someof the objects illustrated can be expanded and collapsed and otherstationary or moving objects fixed or moved with, or independent of, anyof the said screens may be employed to enhance the effect.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for producing illusionary effects in which screens areused, one of which Is movable in relation to others, the representationof an object, say a picture on a screen, being positioned between thescreens so as to be exhibited to a greater degree when the said movementis in one direetion and to a lesser degree when move ment is in theother direct-ion.

2. In an apparatus for producing illusionary effects, the combination ofa fixed screen; movable screens in proximity of the fixed screen; and arepresentation of an object associated with the screens and adapted tobe variably covered by the movement of the movable screens.

3. In an apparatus for producing illusionary eflects, the combination ofa plural ity of movable screens; and a representation of an objectassociated Withthescreens and adapted to be variably covered by themovement of the movable screens.

4:. In an apparatus for producing illusionary eflects, the combinationofa plurality of movable screens; and. a movable representation of anobject associated With the screens and adapted to be variably covered bythe movement of the movable screens.

5. In an apparatus for producing illusionary: effects, the combination.of: aplurality of movable screens and a representationj off an qapiq =01r h s raters may he obt ined in;

' object; associated With the screens and adapted to be variablycovered. by the movement of the variable screens, said representation 5of the object being-adapted to be shortened and lengthened, y

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand-in presence of twoWitnesses.,

LANGDON MCCORMICK. Witnesses:

H. D. JAMISON, R: J. W1LLIAMs.'

fare ents ea h, y xle-mains th fiammiwanss at l fssat

